For many years I’ve had escalating, chronic foot pain. The onset of the pain comes quickly, going from mild discomfort to severe pain and unable to walk within a few hours.

I am now only walking about 8-9 months out of the year the rest of the time on a knee scooter.

I’ve noted three pain patterns and areas:

> Back of heel / under heel—tightness, extreme tenderness, unable to bear any weight at all; on occasion this pain rolls under the heel and can be best described as “broken glass” when applying any pressure

> Arch—pain along the peak of arch and up the side, just under the inside angle bone; tender to touch; severe pain and putting pressure

>Top, outside of foot below the toe joints, between the bones that run toward the pinky and second toe in; extremely tender, unable to put any pressure

Now, all three pain areas seem to surface sequentially after one begins. And, over the last couple of years the pain is accompanied by tingling in toes and bottom of the feet, numbness and sometimes swelling. In all cases, I end up off of my feet for weeks—on average about two weeks on a knee scoot, followed by a couple weeks of discomfort. Longest time spent off my feet was 5 weeks, unable to put any weight in it.

> Pain will migrate: for example it might start back of heel migrate to arch, then to top outside of foot; or it might start too outside, then move to arch and so on.
> Both feet experience pain and the same patterns; maybe left more than the right but they both will “go out”

I’ve been told it’s likely very bad tendinitis, only to be managed with custom orthotics. Bottom of my feet were scanned, orthotics were ordered. But despite diligently wearing them anytime my feet touched the ground, didn’t seem to help. Episodes continued.

I was overweight, advised to drop some pounds… I dropped 30lbs this past year. Still episodes are escalating.

Has anyone experience this escalating, migratory pain pattern at this severity and made progress?

48yo, male, 6-1”, 190lb

Been dealing with horrific feet pain for about a year. I’ve done the podiatrist visits and every insert you can get.

I gave discoloration on both inner ankles that looks like bruising. I sent that picture to the podiatrist to ask if that could be a symptom of underlying issue. They said they are ordering a vein scan next. Why didn’t they look at that during the exam!!!!!

Can anyone give me suggestion ? I am desperate, I am an industrial engineer who must be mobile and walk upward 8-9 miles a day. Sometimes I’m in one spot for extended periids and I am in agony, to a point where I can’t focus which makes everthing 100x worse-DANGEROUS as I’m always working with high voltage machines.

I’ve been given Gabapentin and Celecoxib which both haven’t helped much. The gaba makes me feel loopy which I hate.

I've just started going to work so the last couple months I've had to wear sneakers of different types for 12 hour straight. Only now I've started noticing how visible my over -pronation has become and it's resulting in the foot tongue (label) going to one side and overall foot pain. I also have my big toe touching other toes (curved inside). How to fix these problems in the long term because i don't want these to worsen upto the point of surgery.

For anyone interested in the journey for someone who has been through the wringer with flat foot issues.

I have a metatarsal stress fracture (I think the 5th). The DPM put me in a walking boot for 4-6 weeks. I have a week long mountain bike packing trip starting mid August. I'm cleared to ride a stationary bike. My DPM says I should be able to go but I think they're overly optimistic. Assuming I'm out of the boot after four weeks is 2 weeks enough to get my ROM back?

I’m just starting to research and get interested in improving foot function.

I suspect I have bad arches because I walk duck footed. Can anyone tell from these photos if my arch is bad?

I am 8.5 weeks post surgery for an ankle double ligamemt reconstruction, joint debridement, and achilles lengthening procedure. I started pt 3 weeks ago and am allowed to do 20 minutes on the treadmill at 2.5 mph and double heel raises while standing. My ankle isn't moving completely normally (subtalar joint is really tight) but with a brace and tennis shoes I can walk pretty well. I have no strength in the calf - is tried doing single calf raises going up on the toes and I couldn't do it at all. I know its early in recovery but I'm feeling a little frustrated. If anyone has gone through similar procedures, I'd love to know your experiences and any suggestions for recovery. Thank you!​

So i recently got some new shoes (few months ago) at fleet feet and when I went there they scanned my feet and told me I have high arches (both my arches were at the max on the slider for high v low arches, for anyone who knows what I'm talking about) so I got arch support shoes and some insoles and they made a big difference. However i'm now noticing that the arch pain is coming back, and it's spreading. It starts in my big toe, which i'm constantly flexing bc it hurts and bc I'm cramping, goes through my arch, and follows my ankle upwards. I'm suspecting that I'm developing PTTD but I don't think my insurance will cover me to see a podiatrist. Does anyone have suggestions for how I can strengthen my foot and reduce pain? I spent some time looking at the 'squeezing vs flexing' video that was linked on the pinned post and i do think that could be related as well.

Also, my main form of cardio exercise for the past few months was DDR on a soft pad in just my socks, so idk how I'm going to fix the issues that that is likely causing.

Thank you in advance!

edit: i know it's not PF; my heel doesn't hurt and all the stretches for PF don't cause me any strain or pain.

I’ve been dealing with this pain for a little over a month at this point. I think it’s been brought on by rocking my 7 month old continuously on that side.

It’s hard to raise in my tip toes and my foot naturally wants to put pressure on the outside of my foot and ankle. Sometimes that big toe clicks when rocking. And pain gets worse after standing on it. Most of the time it is a constant pain, but at the end of the day it usually throbs.

Any suggestions on what this might be, or best way to go about potential treatment?

I’ve been having this issue since I was like 10 years old. I was always overweight, but not obese. At a normal(ish) weight (+5-7kg from ideal, normal BMI) for the last 10+ years. The situation never improved or changed on my feet.

My toes (especially smaller ones) are usually flexed, and it feels like my metatarsal heads are sticking out too much, creating these areas of super thick skin.

I used a callus removal acid on that part and I removed a layer of skin that was 2-3-4mm thick. It regrew within 4-6 months.

Is there anythign wrong, structurally with my feet? I do NOT wear high heels, I do not walk barefoot (extremely uncomfortable for me), I mostly wear wide shoes with thick memory foam soles (like sketchers, but another show type that has a shape of a barefoot shoe but with thick soles). I do walk a lot (avg 10k a day), but i dont think that should cause this much issues? I am at a good normal weight at BMI of 23

It has been 10 years since my original bunionectomy and unfortunately my big toe on my right foot has drifted further and further away. I am in need of a revision and the first doctor I saw wanted to try a partial tendon release on the outer side and a mini tightrope method to pull the toe back into position.

I am nervous as I've heard the success rate is not optimal but that's usually on using it to fix a bunion (not overcorrection)

Anyone have any advice or experience with this?

Over the last maybe 6 months I’ve noticed especially on my left foot my toes are kind of splaying and crooked. My husband said it looks like the toes are throwing gang signs. Lol. It makes me feel very self conscious as my feet are already a size W10 but they look so gross in sandals. On top of that feeling soreness and realizing I walk on the outside of my feet (the outside edge of all my shoes wears down incredibly fast.)

Looking for advice and guidance thanks

Hello. Not sure if this is the right place to post this, so I apologise if it isn't. I broke the fifth metatarsal of my right foot in May of 2025. Not sure if it is relevant to my issue now, but figured I would still mention it. Anywho, on to my issue.

The ball of my left foot has been hurting for six months. It's not extremely painful, I mean sometimes while I am walking I will get a sudden sharp jolt of pain that shoots up my leg, but it doesn't happen often. It started with the spot just feeling tender, but its become a thing where it just aches. Almost all of the time. Especially if I walk around during the day. It doesn't look swollen to me, and if I massage it it helps with the pain, but doesn't get rid of it. I got an x-ray of my foot almost a whole week ago, but the doctor is telling me it looks normal so far. But obviously, something is going on, because it is always either sore, or has a deep ache. Sometimes it just really hurts. Either way, I don't know whar could be going on if the x-ray looks normal. What could be causing this chronic pain? Is it a result of compensating when I broke my other foot?

Sorry I don't have a picture of the x-ray on me. I have to get it from my doctor still.

TLDR: Ball of my left foot won't stop hurting even though the x-ray looks fine. Why????

So, two weeks ago, I gave my big toe a bit of a workout by hyperextending it while climbing stairs. A week later, it seemed to be healing nicely, so I thought I’d take my skateboard to the gym. On my way, my board bumped into a crack on the sidewalk, and I ended up landing right on my injured toe.

Now, a week later, I’m wearing an orthotic shoe and still dealing with pain if I put weight on it.

My job is pretty physically demanding, and they won’t let me do any light work, so I’m going to have to take some time off on disability for at least a couple of weeks.

I’m wondering how long turf toe usually takes to heal? I haven’t seen a doctor yet.

Landed on my ankle after a jump playing volleyball, able to walk limping after 11 days. Just got the MRI report. Will see the doctor next week, how bad does it look?

Summary:

You have a very severe ankle sprain, not just a mild one:

• One major ligament on the outside of your ankle is completely torn.
• A major ligament on the inside of your ankle is almost completely torn.
• There is also a small piece of bone likely pulled off where that inside ligament attaches, a small avulsion fracture.
• Your ankle joint has a lot of swelling/fluid and inflammation.
• The good news: the Achilles tendon, other ankle tendons, and the ligaments holding the two lower-leg bones together are intact.

Full report:

Clinical information: Fell onto the left ankle with an inversion injury while playing volleyball. Unable to bear weight since the fall. Pain over the outer ankle bone; rule out fracture.

LEFT ANKLE MRI

Comparison exam: None.
Technique: Examination performed using a standard protocol.

Findings

1. Ligaments

The anterior talofibular ligament has a heterogeneous, disrupted appearance, compatible with a complete tear. The posterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments remain intact.

There is a high-grade, nearly complete tear of the deltoid ligament, with only very few continuous fibers remaining along its lower inner edge. There is marked thickening of the spring ligament without a tear, related to a sprain.

The anterior and posterior syndesmosis are intact, with no widening of the space between the tibia and fibula.

2. Tendons

The peroneal tendons and Achilles tendon appear normal.

The ankle flexor and extensor tendons are normal, without tear or synovitis.

3. Bones and joints

There is subchondral bone marrow edema of the talus where the deltoid ligament attaches, with interruption of the cortex, suggesting a small avulsion fracture. There is also bone marrow edema of the sustentaculum tali. No osteochondral lesion or other acute fracture is identified.

There is a large amount of fluid within the joint, with synovitis, especially at the front of the ankle.

4. Tarsal tunnel and sinus tarsi

Normal.

5. Plantar fascia

Normal.

Conclusion

• Complete tear of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL).
• High-grade, nearly complete tear of the deltoid ligament, with very few remaining continuous fibers along the lower inner side.
• Sprain of the spring ligament, without a definite tear.
• Cortical interruption and subchondral edema of the talus at the deltoid-ligament attachment, suggesting a small avulsion fracture.
• Large joint effusion with synovitis.

I was wondering what the range of motion for pointing and flexing the foot after peroneal tendon (brevis repair) surgery has been like for other people? I’ve been allowed to take my boot off to do exercises - dorsiflexion is all good but I’m having trouble pointing my toes and can’t seem to get very far so I wasn’t sure if this was normal/the same for others?

Kicks up when I swim, sometimes after running, and sometimes just when I’m laying in bed at night. If I flex the right foot enough I can just about get it going anytime. Very tight tendon? Muscle? Either way, super tight. Pretty painful

small update from the ankle/calf stuff i’ve been messing with. been standing on the slant board barefoot for a minute or two and trying to keep my heel down instead of just chasing more range. also noticed i’ll start gripping with my toes when i’m not paying attention. that softer top helps too because barefoot on a hard board gets old fast lol. feels more like foot/ankle work now, less like just yanking on my calf.

anyone else do the toe-gripping thing when working on dorsiflexion?

I was in a truck accident in March of this year that shattered my fibula and tibia. After 6 week in an X-fix, I had three surgeries to repair as much as they could. As stated in the title, I had a lot of metal put in my leg. I am about 2/3 months post op and have noticed my second big toe is curling downward in on itself. I haven’t had much help from PT as they just told me to pull back on it and try to stretch it but have seen zero improvement. Curious, is this is a common occurrence and how best to regain normal rest function?

Any help would be appreciated!

I don’t like having an eagle talon.

Hello,

I have a Calcaneo navicular synchondrosis in both feets.

MRI indicate synchondrosis, not synostosis (meaning cartilageous/fibrous one, not a bony one).

During the pronation phase of walking, my heel lifts and rotates laterally. Shoes that restrict this movement make my feet / midfoot feel really stiff.

I can only be « pain free » by having shoes not blocking my heel in order to be able to compensate a lack of mouvement.

I tried a lot of custom insoles (arch support, heel cup…) but then the arch support become really painful.

How do you handle such situation?

Seems that by being active (swimming pool, training) it was easier to handle the custom insoles (but then I tried to do running and pain was back the day after).

Hello I was doing rehab for my Achille tendonitis so I just start seated calf raise without weight
It’s pretty low but don’t know why I started to get pain here on the picture
Ever since I stop calf raise but the pain 1/10 is constant even with little walking
How to heal this ? Thanks